GURGAON-M cg plans to take over 4 private colonies today

December 06, 2018 06:07 AM

COURSTEY THE HT DEC 6

GurugramKartik Kumar kartik.kumar@htlive.comM cg plans to take over 4 private colonies todayOfficials say decision to be announced after receiving bids from pvt firmsGURUGRAM: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) plans to take over the maintenance of four private colonies — Sushant Lok Phase 1, Palam Vihar, South City 1 and 2 (including Nirvana Country) — on Thursday, MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav said.

According to MCG officials, the work order will be allotted to the concessionaire for completing pending infrastructure in these colonies. Thursday is the last date for firms to submit their bids. Following the selection of a concessionaire, the MCG will make an announcement of taking over the colonies within a few hours, the officials said.

According to Yadav, the takeover was held up for the last 10 to

12 days due to only one firm submitting a bid for the work tender. As per the state government’s policy, at least two firms need to submit a bid for work to be allotted.

Yadav said that provided two or more firms submit bids on Thursday, the MCG will take over the colonies.

“Firms have shown an interest in fixing deficiencies in the four colonies. If two or more firms come forward on Thursday, the minimum requisite number will be met and the work order will be issued, following tender allotment,” Yadav said, while cautioning that if the minimum number is not met then the takeover will be indefinitely delayed.

Yadav had earlier said that extra manpower was needed to take over the four colonies, and since government policies allow the MCG to outsource work, the civic body has opted for the same.

“A file in regard to colony takeover is already present in the chief minister’s office (CMO) and will be sanctioned once the work order is issued,” he further said.

The transfer of Palam Vihar, Sushant Lok and DLF Phases 1,

2, 3 was announced by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in February 2016.

In 2017, South City 1 and 2 (including Nirvana Country), Suncity and Ardee City were added to the list, with the latter being omitted later as the developer had not procured a part completion certificate.

DLF Phases 1, 2, 3 and Suncity are not part of the list, as the developers said they would complete the pending infrastructure themselves as listed in the original building plans before handing over the colony to the MCG.

These colonies were developed in the 1980s and their civic amenities, such as roads, drainage, and sewage collection, took a major hit when the city witnessed mass urbanisation in the

2000s.

Prior to the issuance of transfer, developers had the option to complete the remaining infrastructure as listed at the time of issuance of building plans in the

1970s, such as community centres, parks, roads, sewage lines, green belts, themselves, or pay the requisite sum to the MCG either directly in cash or by attaching movable or immovable assets for carrying out the work.

The developers of the four colonies likely to be transferred on Thursday have opted to pay cash or attach their assets with the MCG.

“For the last eight years, roads and drains in the colony have not been repaired. The MCG’S takeover has hence become a long-pending demand by residents, as the authority has the necessary machinery and monetary to carry out the work and ensure that at least basic civic necessities are met,” Ravish Malik, a resident of Sushant Lok Phase 1, said.

To fix deficiencies, as per the MCG’S estimates, ₹41.28 crore is required in Sushant Lok Phase 1, ₹19.32 crore in Palam Vihar, ₹17.95 crore in South City 1 and ₹33.32 crore in South City 2 (including Nirvana Country, which needs ₹9.80 crore).

On October 30, Yadav had issued directions to MCG officials to take over these four colonies by the end of November, but since only one firm had come forward to bid on the work tender, on the date of selecting a concessionaire two weeks ago, the takeover was postponed until at least two firms showed interest (the minimum number as mandated by the state government).

The takeover has been held up despite several dates decided by the authorities since August 9, when the Town and Country Planning department had directed developers to transfer colonies by August 31 on ‘as is where is basis’ (meaning colonies must be transferred, whatever be their current situation).

Following this, on September 9, the Town and Country Planning department had issued an order to transfer Sushant Lok Phase 1 and Palam Vihar to the MCG with immediate effect.